New housing scheme on drawing board: KCR

Hyderabad: The State government is working out the modalities to launch a new scheme that would facilitate people to construct a double bedroom house on their own land. Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, announcing this in the State Legislative Assembly on Friday, said the scheme will be implemented in a phased manner with necessary financial support for around 1,000-1,500 beneficiaries in each constituency. He stated that the double bedroom houses were delayed due to Corona pandemic and lack of adequate land.

In response to issues raised by the Opposition parties, the Chief Minister assured to resolve the issues pertaining to the house pattas issued by the previous governments in Hyderabad and its surrounding areas. He asked Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar to convene a meeting with the officials concerned and resolve the issue. He stated that the State government sanctioned Rs 19.2 lakh crore for double bedroom houses in the last six years.

During the short discussion on ‘Government Welfare programmes’ in the Assembly, Chandrashekhar Rao said the TRS government spent Rs 74,165 crore in seven years for all welfare departments, while the Congress government spent only Rs 21,663 crore in 10 years of its regime. As per the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), the Telangana government had spent Rs 23,296 crore for SC welfare, Rs 14,447 crore for Tribal welfare, Rs 19,535 crore for BC welfare, Rs 6,971 crore for minority welfare, and Rs 9,916 crore for Women and Child welfare, in last seven years.

Responding to the issues raised by the Opposition parties, the Chief Minister admitted that KG to PG education was his dream programme and he had done some exercise on the subject. However, academicians and children psychologists have advised against operating residential schools for children below Class 5th as the latter will not be able to handle themselves. “Currently, we have opened Gurukul schools starting from Class 5th and Telangana has highest number of Gurukul schools in the country. We are spending Rs 1.25 lakh per annum per student who are studying in these residential schools,” he said.

He stated that the proceedings have been initiated to obtain orders from the court for reopening the residential schools after the Dasara holidays. The residential schools have remained closed since the Covid-19 pandemic and thereafter following the court orders.

Chandrashekhar Rao said the State government will spend Rs 10,000 crore with special focus on improving health infrastructure in all government hospitals across the State. After the Covid pandemic, the State government took several measures for improving facilities including created infrastructure with 500 tonnes capacity of oxygen supplies. Further, efforts will be made to expedite construction of the proposed super specialty hospitals in Hyderabad and Warangal. The government had already sanctioned 12 new medical colleges. “I assure that all new districts will have new medical college each in a phased manner,” he said.

The Chief Minister said he was also concerned about the attendants of patients at various hospitals. We have already initiated measures for construction of shelter homes for attedants at a few hospitals. Orders have been issued to construct shelters on par with the hospital buildings at all new super specialty hospitals coming up in the State. Further, the government has increased dialysis centres in Hyderabad from 3 to 41 since the State formation. “Besides increasing the number of dialysis centres, bus passes have been issued to about 10,000 patients for regular commuting on city buses,” he added.

Chandrashekhar Rao said the government will consider the proposals for reinstatement of the field assistants of Revenue department who went on a strike after quitting the job. He said the corruption has reduced in execution of works since the removal of field assistants. He reiterated that the government will not acquire assigned lands to the maximum extent and in case of unavoidable conditions, the assigned land owner will be compensated duly by either providing alternative land or pay compensation on par with other land owners.

Further, the State government will come up with a comprehensive plan for rehabilitation of Dhoolpet and also drive away the stigma against residents of Dhoolpet which was not good for the State. A team of officials comprising the Hyderabad district collector, police and also welfare authorities will interact with the locals and resolve the prevailing issues. He said fresh applications will be invited for issuing of new oldage pensions and ration cards.

The Chief Minister admitted that there is an increased transportation of ganja and drugs in Telangana including Hyderabad, Medak and other towns in the State, and he was concerned about the latest trend. He asked DGP M Mahender Reddy to take stock of the situation and initiate stringent measures against it.

He promised all support to the orphan children in the State and issue a certificate declaring them as children of the State. He said necessary action will be taken to safeguard students especially girl students studying in Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) as per the recommendations of the Cabinet sub-committee which is exploring all possible options.

Now you can get handpicked stories from Telangana Today on Telegram everyday. Click the link to subscribe.

Click to follow Telangana Today Facebook page and Twitter .